Filmmaker Stig Olin dies at 87

Longtime Bergman collaborator; father of Lena

Swedish helmer, actor, writer and composer Stig Olin, a longtime collaborator with Ingmar Bergman and the father of thesp Lena Olin, died of natural causes June 28. He was 87.

During the 1940s and ’50s, Olin had leading parts in six Bergman-helmed films, starting with “Crisis” in 1946 and ending with “Illicit Interlude” in 1951. He also had parts in many Bergman-scripted films, such as the Alf Sjoberg-helmed classic “Frenzy” in 1944.

During the 1950s, Olin helmed 10 features, ranging from comedies to dark dramas. During the 1960s, ’70s and beginning of the ’80s, he worked at Swedish Radio while at the same time directing theater. He directed the original Swedish staging of Stephen Sondheim’s musical “A Little Night Music,” based on Bergman’s “Smiles of a Summer Night.”

Olin was also a renowned composer, having written several Swedish classics that still are very popular.

Olin is survived by his wife, Brita Holmberg, and children Mats and Lena. Latter is married to helmer Lasse Hallstrom.